Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Alum Rock Medical Centre on 11 July 2017.
Our key findings across all of the areas we inspected were as follows:
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Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded. Significant events were investigated, acted on when necessary and learning shared with staff.
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Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. There were safe systems for prescribing medicines.
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Staffing levels were monitored to ensure they reflected patients’ needs. Effective staff recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed.
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The practice worked closely with other health and social care organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they met patients’ needs. For example, in conjunction with a visiting health trainer and the practice nurse they were providing a 10 week course on dietary needs for safe fasting during Ramadan and the importance of exercising.
- Previous data published showed that patient satisfaction in respect of care and access to the service were rated mostly in line with the local and national averages. An action plan had been developed to address results that were below average. Current data showed that improvements had been achieved but that further work was needed in a few areas.
We saw an area of outstanding practice:
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Patients 40 – 70 years of age were offered NHS health checks. Clinical staff also carried out health checks of patients aged between 16 and 39 years of age, 57% of patients within this age range had been screened for diabetes. Following the inspection, the practice advised that due to this intervention 65 patients in this age range had been identified as diabetic and 62 patients identified as pre-diabetic leading to early treatment and health promotion.
However, there was an area of practice where the provider needs to make an improvement.
The provider should:
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice